Three JSI Photographers Recognized in 10 Photographs That Changed Architecture
Two Julius Shulman Institute Photography Awardees and Julius Shulman himself were included in Architizer Journal’s recent piece on . Recognizing influential photographers, Architizer featured images that all had an impact on architecture to rethink the way we view our built environment. The featured photographs include work by H茅l猫ne Binet, Iwan Baan and Julius Shulman, each generating new ideas about the role photography plays in the profession.
The piece draws from photographs that span every stage of a building鈥檚 life, from construction, through occupancy, to demolition. A summary of the three images and their respective photographers is included below:
Koluma 01 (2007)
Photographer: H茅l猫ne Binet
Architect: Peter Zumthor
Binet鈥檚 images of聽Kolumba Museum聽in Cologne, Germany, sought to capture the understated power of Zumthor鈥檚 intervention, showcasing the subtle brilliance of both architect and photographer. Binet took a series of tightly cropped photos, each focusing on the interaction between structure and light. In this case, Zumthor鈥檚 unique聽Kolumba bricks聽form a magical composition that is an antidote for the endless walls of glass wrapping most modern museums.
How it changed architecture: Through this and many other photographs, Binet pushed light and shade to the forefront of architectural design. The photographer鈥檚 representation of Zumthor鈥檚 work illustrated the immense power of light to elevate the atmosphere of a space, influencing countless young architects in the process.
Torre David (2011)
Photographer Iwan Baan
Architect: Enrique G贸mez
Torre David聽is an unfinished skyscraper in Caracas, Venezuela, which was occupied by thousands of squatters after construction was halted due to financial problems. This infamous 鈥榲ertical slum鈥� came to symbolize the systemic failures of the Venezuelan government, but also illuminated the resilience of transient communities that created a life for themselves inside this looming edifice. Baan鈥檚 photo of the building鈥檚 exterior perfectly captures this, its patchwork of makeshift windows and balustrades hinting at activity within.
How it changed architecture: Baan鈥檚 images of Torre David showed the value of documenting accidental and imperfect architecture as well as the pristine structures we are accustomed to seeing. They told a story about a building and its inhabitants in a way rarely seen before. This series also won Iwan Baan global acclaim at the聽2012 Venice Biennale聽鈥� he is now arguably the world鈥檚 best known architectural photographer living today.
Case Study House no. 22 (1960)
Photographer: Julius Shulman
Architect: Pierre Koenig
Shulman鈥檚 photographs of the experimental 鈥淐ase Study鈥� houses in Los Angeles, California, are widely credited for bring modernism into the mainstream. This image of Pierre Koenig鈥檚 Stahl House is arguably the most iconic of them all, striking a perfect balance between the building鈥檚 bold, cantilevered exterior with a chic yet comfortable interior. Shulman鈥檚 use of models 鈥� complete with sophisticated cocktail dresses 鈥� helped to humanize modernism, while adding a touch of glamour synonymous with Hollywood.
How it changed architecture: Shulman鈥檚 photograph raised the bar for property marketing, proving that modern architecture could help sell the 鈥淎merican Dream鈥� to consumers just as effectively as clapboard houses with white picket fences.聽TIME Magazine聽has called it 鈥渢he most successful real estate image ever taken鈥�.